Suzuki Kizashi AWD CVT 2.4 Petrol road test review by Oliver Hammond

Suzuki Kizashi road test review by Oliver Hammond - photo - front 2

‘A what?’ seemed to be the general consensus. Indeed, the Suzuki Kizashi is a car not many people are aware of. Having seen a Kizashi on the Alpine Course at the Millbrook circuit a few months ago, I was itching to review one – and I’m glad I did! Exterior The Suzuki Kizashi is the Japanese firm’s new D-Segment offering, meaning it’s a mid-size family saloon – and a sporty one, at that. To me, the Kizashi looks great with its muscular, Read The Rest...

Volvo C70 D3 150PS Geartronic SE Lux Solstice road test review by Oliver Hammond

Volvo C70 D3 150PS Geartronic SE Lux Solstice road test review by Oliver Hammond - Ashley Cheshire photo

Another week, another convertible car on test. This time, it was the turn of a sexy Swede with enough spec’ to worry most of its rivals, along with a supposedly economical diesel engine, mated to an automatic gearbox. Sounds like a great recipe for effortless roof-down cruising… Exterior Discerning motorists with good taste couldn’t help but admire the original Volvo C70’s sexy, svelte styling, sumptuous interior and sensational sound system. Full marks to Peter Horbury and his team. Its profile was boosted Read The Rest...

Ford Fiesta Metal 1.6 TiVCT Duratec 134PS Road Test Review by Oliver Hammond

Ford Fiesta Metal 1-6 TiVCT Duratec 134PS Road Test Review by Oliver Hammond - Gargrave 04

Think Ford and chances are that a lot of you may well think Fiesta. Since its launch in 1976 the Fiesta has enjoyed a fantastically successful life – and still does to this day. The year 1980 heralded the first ‘sport version’ of the Fiesta, in the form of the 1.3L Supersport, which paved the way for the eponymous XR2. My first Fiesta memories are of the third generation model in the late 80s/early 90s, on family holidays in the Read The Rest...

Skoda Octavia vRS 2.0 TFSI Hatch Road Test Review by Oliver Hammond

2012-06-16 Skoda Octavia vRS TFSI petrol 200PS hatch road test review by Oliver Hammond SimonsCarSpots - front grile photo

In rather conspicuous but nevertheless gorgeous Storm Blue metallic paint and adorned with a sizeable boot spoiler, a gaping, aggressive front grille and chunky bumpers, shiny red brake callipers, sporty 18” Neptune alloy wheels and a few tasteful vRS badges dotted around the place, the Škoda Octavia vRS hatch certainly makes for an attention-grabbing package. But does it drive as well as it looks and how does it fare in general terms? Czech me out! Having reviewed a whole stream of white-coloured Read The Rest...

Peugeot 3008 1.6 HDi 112 FAP Sportium Road Test Review by Oliver Hammond

Peugeot 3008 HDi 112 FAP Sportium road test review by Oliver Hammond SimonsCarSpots - front 34 photo lead

A 5am start ahead of a 3-hour drive from Oldham in Lancashire down to Millbrook in Bedfordshire for the 2012 SMMT Test Day certainly provided a good opportunity to assess this limited edition Sportium version of Peugeot’s 3008 crossover. Read on to find out how this 1.6-litre diesel model fared on our Millbrook-bound road trip encompassing the windy, undulating Woodhead Pass and the good ol’ M1. The car that wants to be everything With the Nissan Qashqai and the surge of other Read The Rest...